# Overrated food and drink (brands) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** food-cooking\ **Created:** [October 12, 2023, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overrated-food-and-drink-brands/991515 "2023-10-12T11:40:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2023, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overrated-food-and-drink-brands/991515/201 "2023-10-17T05:28:45Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > The interesting question is why I don’t go to Harvey’s more often, which is our version of one of those premium burger places. Their burgers are the closest I’ve found in any burger joint to homemade on an outdoor grill. I have found the texture of Harvey’s hamburger patties to be a little off compared to an all-beef patty cooked at home. Note that Harvey’s has some filler in their patties (bread crumbs and soy, I think). I like the toppings bar, though. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2023, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overrated-food-and-drink-brands/991515/202 "2023-10-17T05:57:18Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > 5 Guys has about 27 condiments and every burger is custom somehow. But not 1000 island dressing. And 27? Besides mustard, mayo, ketchup, and A1, what other condiments do they have? > [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > Just now I put together an order for a burger, fries and a soda at 5-guys. That _is_ crazy. Especially the small fries. But you ordered Coke in a bottle, which is always overpriced. They dont have fountain drinks? ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2023, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overrated-food-and-drink-brands/991515/203 "2023-10-17T06:10:39Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > They dont have fountain drinks? I do not know. And not sure they would charge differently between the two. Since I was using an online order system I think they only offer bottled soda. I did not include delivery or tip or tax in the prices you see above. It’d cost even more than what you see there to have it delivered. Pushing $30 all told for a burger, fries and a Coke from a fast food restaurant. Madness. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2023, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overrated-food-and-drink-brands/991515/204 "2023-10-17T07:11:36Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > But not 1000 island dressing. Mix ketchup and mayo and you’re pretty close to Thousand Island dressing. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2023, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overrated-food-and-drink-brands/991515/205 "2023-10-17T11:44:27Z")
I ran @Whack-a-Mole’s same order at my local 5 guys. For pickup it was $18.07 before tax. They do have unlimited fountain drinks in the store. I’m not a big fan; I’m not defending them here. Just pointing out that prices do vary around the country for the same product. And IME their prices are not at all out of line compared to other “niche” burger joints who are not the Big 3: McD / BK / W. I tried the same basic order at a BK nearby the 5 guys, so similar rent, material & labor costs, customer SES, etc. A Whopper Jr combo meal w small sides for pickup came to $8.49 plus tax. I’m betting that’s about the same size burger. If not, a full-sized Whopper combo meal w small fries & drink came to $9.99. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2023, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overrated-food-and-drink-brands/991515/206 "2023-10-17T12:10:53Z")
Five Guys across the street from my office: Cheeseburger + Little Fries + Regular Coke = $17.07 Burger King just one block down: Whopper + Medium Fries + Medium Coke = $10.29 Both are before tax. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2023, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overrated-food-and-drink-brands/991515/207 "2023-10-17T13:11:27Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > And 27? Besides mustard, mayo, ketchup, and A1, what other condiments do they have? Five Guys offers seven different sauces: **Ketchup, Mustard, Mayo, Relish, Bar-B-Que Sauce, Hot Sauce (Franks RedHot) and A1 Sauce**. Total topping list: [![](https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-29psGJgooc8/T_8gKVu3L_I/AAAAAAAAE48/M_CKeUiig7Q/s320/fg.jpg) ](https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-29psGJgooc8/T_8gKVu3L_I/AAAAAAAAE48/M_CKeUiig7Q/s320/fg.jpg) Seriously over-priced for what you get. Definitely not a fan. I’ll drive the extra 100 yards to In-N-Out. ---
**Author:** ![Tride](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tride/32/13907_2.png) [@Tride](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tride)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2023, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overrated-food-and-drink-brands/991515/208 "2023-10-17T13:13:19Z")
Come to Bozeman–my favorite food truck [Low Key](https://www.lowkeysandwiches.com/) has hand ground local beef, fresh bun, hand-cut fries (not that crispy–1 fry I’m sure, but very tasty). About $20 including tip!! ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2023, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overrated-food-and-drink-brands/991515/209 "2023-10-17T13:33:15Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > It’s all stupid expensive but look at that price for a soda (single serving) and french fries!! The Small Fries at Five Guys is an Extra Large anywhere else. And they do cook every burger to order (which is why it takes longer and is more considered a Fast Casual place and not a Fast Food place). ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2023, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overrated-food-and-drink-brands/991515/210 "2023-10-17T13:52:12Z")
Whenever go to Five Guys, I can’t finish half the fries, even the Little Fries. The burger also seems much greasier than the fast food ones. All in all, I feel overstuffed every time I go to Five Guys. I never go unless my coworkers want to go. For less than the price of the burger, fries and drink I can get one of: Bento box at the Japanese/PanAsian restaurant (many choices) Bibimbap at the Korean place Pad Thai or Fried Rice at the Thai place etc. Maybe same price if you factor in the tip (total ~$20) And with the queues at Five guys, I’m not sure they are faster. I think those are a better comparison to Five Guys than McDonald’s or BK. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2023, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overrated-food-and-drink-brands/991515/211 "2023-10-17T14:47:40Z")
> [@ISiddiqui](#): > > The Small Fries at Five Guys is an Extra Large anywhere else. For $6, it damn well should be. Maybe let me pay $2.50 and get a normal serving of fries. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2023, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overrated-food-and-drink-brands/991515/212 "2023-10-17T14:56:29Z")
A “small” fries at The Hat in SoCal will run you $3.99. It’s an entire scoop of cooked to order fries that are actually GOOD. 5 Guys blows. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2023, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overrated-food-and-drink-brands/991515/213 "2023-10-17T15:09:52Z")
You can get a “Family Share” bucket-o-fries from McDonald’s for five or six bucks. It’s still breakfast hours so I can’t check the app for an exact price but it’s around there. I just looked at my local Five Guys website and it’s $5.19 for a small fries. The thing is, I’d never order myself a Quarter Pounder and a Family Share fries. So having that be your “small” size isn’t value-added for me. It’s just either wasted food or an extra thousand calories I didn’t need. There’s not even any real value in “But if you’re ordering for three people, you only need one fries” because you could pay the same anywhere else for a heap of fries, they’ll just call it an extra-large. If the Five Guys small fries was $2.59 then it’s be a bargain (if still probably an excessive number of fries). But selling you a jumbo fries at average jumbo fries prices and calling it a “small” doesn’t make it a deal. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2023, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overrated-food-and-drink-brands/991515/214 "2023-10-17T16:45:56Z")
> [@digs](#): > > And we got some crullers we can’t sell yet. The biggest grumble I have about the local donut chain we have here, [Bosa](https://bosadonutsaz.com/menu/), is they don’t do crullers. One mystery I have is there is a donut shop just down the street from me with a sign, BoSa like all the others, but not in a red, stretched hexagon. They never appear in the locations listed in the BoSa ads. I made a point of stopping and asking the lady behind the counter but she didn’t speak English too well. I picture a family fight or something and the youngerst son storming off and starting a store. And as far as Krispy Kreme goes, I prefer cake donuts over raised so they don’t do it for me. They do have cake available I have but it’s not their forte. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2023, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overrated-food-and-drink-brands/991515/215 "2023-10-17T17:38:11Z")
> [@Mighty\_Mouse](#): > > Whenever go to Five Guys, I can’t finish half the fries, even the Little Fries. The burger also seems much greasier than the fast food ones. > > All in all, I feel overstuffed every time I go to Five Guys. I feel this way about the food quality and/or portion sizes of most restaurants. Even when it’s ok and fresh I can eat like half of it and then I am full. Something like a burger does not reheat the next day. A small order of 5 Guys fries is like 4 potatoes cooked in peanut oil. Ask yourself how often you have eaten 4 potatoes in a single sitting and felt good about it and then add slurping down a few tablespoons of peanut oil on top. Ok, split the small order. When have you eaten two potatoes and a tablespoon of peanut oil ON THE SIDE of a heavy burger and shake or soft drink? I don’t understand the modern American diet. Not as in why we are all fat, I know why, but why are there no good reasonably healthy and affordable options. I find myself eating raw plain food more and more. Banana, baby carrots, slice or two of home made wheat bread with some butter. That’s a happy stomach and wallet, but you can’t franchise that. ---
**Author:** ![MagicEyes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@MagicEyes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MagicEyes)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2023, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overrated-food-and-drink-brands/991515/216 "2023-10-17T17:49:30Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > From what I’ve read on the Wendy’s subreddit, they differ region by region as to whether mustard comes standard on burgers. Here in WA they do, but I believe in most of the country they don’t. I live in North Carolina, and they’re pro-mustard here. I’ve gotten burgers at Wendy’s that aren’t even supposed to have mustard, but they put mustard on them anyway. 🙄 I hate mustard. It’s all good, though, because I really don’t need to eat fast food. ---
**Author:** ![echoreply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/echoreply/32/3641_2.png) [@echoreply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/echoreply)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2023, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overrated-food-and-drink-brands/991515/217 "2023-10-17T18:34:40Z")
> [@Mighty\_Mouse](#): > > Five Guys across the street from my office: > > Cheeseburger + Little Fries + Regular Coke = $17.07 > > Burger King just one block down: > > Whopper + Medium Fries + Medium Coke = $10.29 Don’t take this as endorsement of Five Guys over Burger King. For me, food budget is calories, not dollars. Obviously there is a dollar limit, but if I’m going to have a burger and fries, I would much rather get a (post inflation) $20 burger from a good restaurant than a $5-10 fast food burger. The fact that for $20, I’m only going to get that burger occasionally is part of the point. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2023, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overrated-food-and-drink-brands/991515/218 "2023-10-17T19:14:11Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Mix ketchup and mayo and you’re pretty close to Thousand Island dressing. Nope. > [@silenus](#): > > Five Guys offers seven different sauces: **Ketchup, Mustard, Mayo, Relish, Bar-B-Que Sauce, Hot Sauce (Franks RedHot) and A1 Sauce**. Total topping list: Okay, but I do not consider the veggies to be condiments, they are toppings. > [@Jophiel](#): > > You can get a “Family Share” bucket-o-fries from McDonald’s for five or six bucks. The fries and the hash browns are about the only things i still get there, and those rarely. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2023, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overrated-food-and-drink-brands/991515/219 "2023-10-17T19:37:59Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Yeah, 15, 20 years ago, if you wanted a fast food burger, it was basically McD, BK, Wendy’s, or Jack in the Box. In’N’Out blew them all out of the water. Depends on where you are. Where I grew up, Wendy’s was the newcomer, and JITB didn’t exist. This was 45 years ago, of course. And Wendy’s was massively better than the others. Nowadays: McDonald’s is on every street corner - almost as common as Starbucks. BK is probably next in line for commonness; there are only 2 Wendy’s within anything like a reasonable drive. JITB and In n Out basically don’t exist around here. There are actually more semi-upscale places / chains locally: 5 Guys, Elevation Burger, BGR, and various local non-chain (at least as far as I know) places that do so much better. But if you’re travelling and your aim is refueling versus dining, any of the chains will be just fine. Dunkin Donuts has a lot of nostalgic fondness here: my father would stop there after Mass on Sundays and get 2 dozen, so we each got 4. Cream filled, and glazed, never anything else; I was shocked the first time I went into a store and saw all the other options. KK was a surprise when I got to college; they were packaged and sold in the vending machines in the dorm. Wasn’t until many years later that I happened to go into an actual store, and saw they had other varieties as well. I’m still fond of DD though - but I basically never buy them unless we happen to be travelling and wind up there for a bathroom break. Otherwise, Homer Simpson would be looking at me and saying “Dude, slow down and ease off the doughnuts!”. Like burgers, we’re somewhat spoiled for “upscale” donuts around here. Duck Donuts (no choices in filling, but LOTS of choices in toppings), which is right next door to my doctor’s office (I don’t go in until AFTER the blood draw!!!). Donutchew (mochi-based). But for a filled donut, DD is the only game in town. District Doughnuts (which is [un]fortunately very inaccessible, so I’ve only ever gotten something there once). ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2023, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overrated-food-and-drink-brands/991515/220 "2023-10-17T19:40:11Z")
> [@Mama\_Zappa](#): > > Depends on where you are. Implicitly, California, since I’m talking about In’N’Out. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overrated-food-and-drink-brands/991515.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overrated-food-and-drink-brands/991515.md?page=12)